Exclusive Interview With Wendy Federman, CEO Of ‘Foolish Mortals Productions’
Image Source: Bergen Records
CultureSlate had the chance to talk to several amazing artists and storytellers who have worked on Broadway, film, music, and TV in various different ways. All of them shared their stories, how they came into their roles, and what their jobs entail in the industry.
This interview is with Wendy Federman, who is the CEO of Foolish Mortals and has worked in varying positions across Broadway, film, and television.
CultureSlate: What was the process like for you with taking a big fan favorite film, 13 Going on 30, into a musical?
Wendy: I was lead producer on 13 Going on 30: the Musical, and I am a huge fan of the film. My daughter and I, when it came out, loved it. I happened to, about 10 years ago, produce a film for Jen Garner. I adore her. So, I have a very warm feeling for the film, and the message of the film, “who do you want to be when you grow up? How do you want to get there? What kind of person do you want to be?” The first thing you have to do is really respect the material and respect the fans of the original material. Make sure that what you're delivering is honoring them, but obviously presenting it in a theatrical way, and whatever we can add in. I always like say it's like a stew. You add more ingredients and sometimes it tastes better the next day.
RELATED:
Image Source: Foolish Mortals LinkedIn
With this, we had to have the “Thriller” song. It just wasn't happening without it. Years ago, when I was a newer producer on The Addams Family, initially, the lead producers didn't want to get the snaps. They really wanted to have it different, and I kept saying no we need them. Long story short, after a week or two in Chicago, we had the snaps because the audience members were speaking up.
My one goal was to give the fan base as much as possible, that they weren't feeling that there was anything from the film that we were not honoring. Maybe some changes here in some of the side characters, but the relationship between Jenna and Matt, and what happens, is pretty much the same. Some of it was able to get a little deeper. When she realizes that she didn't stay in touch with her parents, we have a little bit more of a scene where she's so happy to see them older and they're shocked that she's happy to see them. We can do that in theater. We can give a little more ingredients into the stew to make it even richer. That's really a big part of it.
I'm a part of Devil Wears Prada. I think we honor the film pretty well, but it's on stage, so you've got great costumes. Nobody does razzle-dazzle like director Jerry Mitchell. When Vanessa comes down at the end, with the number that's supposed to be at The Met, and she's in this red sequin gown with this red cape, the audience is going yeah. The same way with the 13 Going On 30 audience, when they hear the first two notes of “Thriller” and she comes out in the dress, “okay, we're good.” They're happy. We brought them in emotionally, and they feel honored, but they're really happy to see it. Which is what we want.
CultureSlate: Did you have a favorite musical as a kid that inspired you?
Wendy: My mother was an actress, and she worked a lot with Rodgers and Hammerstein. My aunt went out and did film in L.A., and my uncle (Paul Frees) was the voice of Boris Badenov and the Jolly Green Giant and the Pillsbury Doughboy and every original ride in Disney. I grew up with voices. I was doing harmony by the time I was five. I grew up listening to the Rodgers and Hammerstein, My Fair Lady, all of that. I remember on my own being very young and discovering Stephen Schwartz’s Pippin way before Wicked. I think I was at the second preview of Wicked. I was not working in the industry [at the time], but boy, would I have thrown money at that thing.
I love pop music, and I love classical music, and I love other kinds of music. But I love theater, and I think it's wonderful. With a musical, it's people expressing themselves. When you're of that emotion and you burst it into the song, and it takes you to that next moment, when it's all working, it's really wonderful.
CultureSlate: What do you think is one of the most important things about a musical is?
Wendy: With a musical, one of the most important things is your book writer. I've heard some really good music, but the dialogue or the storytelling isn't there, and it's not cohesive in getting it into the song. It's such a fine art I have such respect for. I always say that it sounds counterintuitive when they say, “what's the most important thing with the new musical?” And I go “the book.” Because an audience could be really let down if the storytelling from song to song isn't there.
One of the musicals that was the most influential to me was Evita, because I remember thinking, “My God, they're singing through it.” I mean, obviously Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin back in the day, but they're singing it. Just the fact that it was such a unique thing at the time, the same way, when Jim Rado wrote Hair, which I was too young for the original, but it had to have turned some heads around in terms of, “Whoa, we're getting rock music, that kind of music, on the stage.” And to the same point with what In The Heights and Hamilton did. You like to think that every generation has something. There's been some really good stuff in this decade, but we're all still waiting for that next big one.
That same way with (Stephen) Sondheim. You had Rodgers and Hammerstein first. Sondheim studied with Hammerstein. But obviously, the blessings were put on Lin Manuel Miranda, who gave a wonderful blessing to Benj (Pasek) and Justin (Paul) from Dear Evan Hansen. It's going to be interesting to see who's going to be the next?
I love doing these musicals, and the films, if you do it right, but of course, who doesn't want to find A Band's Visit, which was from a small film, or Hadestown, something uniquely original, even last year's Maybe Happy Ending, that works, and that will eventually be judged as timeless.
Be on the lookout for more interviews in this artist, film, and musician series!
CultureSlate: Made by humans, for humans.
Please consider supporting our AI-free content via our Patreon page.
READ NEXT:
Latest News
Featured
